Since I have joined this forum I have hearc many times that the Bushnell 4200 and 6500 Elite scopes use the same glass and are of equal quality optically. I am not so sure about this being true. Bushnell says in their catalog that the 6500 scope reigns supreme oner all others in light transmisson and clarity. They make no exception for the 4200. Also I have read on here that the 4200 6-24 is not as clear as it could be when the power goes up much over 18 power. On the other hand those that talk about the 6500 4.5-30 seem to be satisfied with the clarity of this scope clear up to 30 power. This indicates to me that the 6500 is better optically than the 4200 but I have never looked through either scope. So my question is to those that know both scopes well. Are they really of equal with the only difference being the 6.5 power spread of the 6500 and the 30mm tube or is the 6500 better optically?

Image quality is comparable. However there is more to optical quality than just image quality and overall I think Elite 6500 has better optics: eye relief is longer and more flexible; magnification range is appreciably larger.

Contrast and resolution are similar.

ILya

www.opticsthoughts.com

Those who are merciful to the cruel, are cruel to the merciful. Talmud

Koshkin, Randall45, thanks for your help. All the 6500 models have a lot of appeal to me. The 6.5 times power spread makes them versatile. The 1.5-8 could be a dangerous game scope with enough top end power for the longest shots. The 2.5-16 covers almost everything The 4.5-30 could be used on big game and long range target shooting. The 6500s do not seem to cost much more than the 4200s of the same top magnification. The 6500s have more eye relief, lighter weight, and shorter length than simular 4200s. Does anyone reading this have experience using the 4.5-30 model at the top powers between 20 and 30 power? Does it work well at these very high powers?

... The 1.5-8 could be a dangerous game scope with enough top end power for the longest shots. The 2.5-16 covers almost everything ...

Please let me know if you think this is crazy, but I will be bringing my 6500 2.5-16x50 on my Mk V 340 Wby for a brown bear hunt soon. I feel that, unless the bear is literally grabbing my barrel with his paw (in which case, no scope necessary: point, shoot), at the 2.5 setting, I can see anything close enough, well enough, fast enough to use that scope at that setting on dangerous game. I would like to hear thoughts on that.

I would be completely comfortable with 2.5x setting for your described purpose, but there are caveats... Of course, an Aimpoint would always be a good choice, or a fixed 2.5x or 4x... The problem with variables for DG hunting is making sure you have the proper magnification when the DG "attacks". Just another thing to have to be aware of at what could be a "high stress" moment. If you are specifically going "bar huntin'" (or other DG hunting), I would prefer a low power fixed or red dot scope. Just my choice. Trying to change magnification while hundreds of pounds of angry teeth and claws or hooves and horns are charging you, just doesn't seem the best use of time...

Opinion,untempered by fact,is ignorance.

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I had a 340 wby without a muzzle break on it, it shot really well, grouped well under an inch at 100 yds, but kicked like 2 mules! I had an old 3-9 vari-x II on it and it lasted longer than I did! I think 2.5 power would be low enough for a good field of view and that's where it would remain during a big bear hunt! The 6500 has a good eye relief and a rubber bumper on the eyepiece, plus rainguard. As long as they are a tough as the 4200, I'd go for it. The smaller 6500 would be my #1 choice in the Bushnell line for things that can eat you!

I think anything from 3 power on down with a field of at least 37 feet at 100 yards is ok for dangerous game if you get used to that rifle and practice bringing it to your shoulder and getting on target fast. You can practice this by dry firing at different targets. I have called my dog and dry fire killed him many times pretending he was a charging bear. While the 2.5 power and 41 foot field of the 2.5-16 6500 should work fine for bear you should always carry it on 2.5. A lower power with a bigger field would be better for charging bear but 2.5 should be ok and I would put the 2.5-16 on a dangerous game rifle because I do not think I would get caught by surprise with the scope set to high. Some guys might get caught with the scope set to high and they need a fixed power of 2.5 or less.

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